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2: April Reyna
April Reyna says she’s a late bloomer to the comic world, but she has a pretty strong start to becoming a successful female artist within the comic industry. April nabbed a color separating job with Heroic Age Studios out of high school and assisted in the color separations of many popular DC titles such as: JSA, JLA Hourman, Deadenders, Teen Titans, and Wonder Woman.
She moved to Phoenix to study fine art at Arizona State University and has since participated in several local comic related events such as creator days on a monthly basis, 24 hours comics, and ‘starving artist’ extravaganzas. She’s also participated in the Phoenix Comic Con, The Encredicon hosted through the store Evermore Nevermore, and The Laughing Moon Con.
Shes currently working on a cooking comic tentatively titled Recipe Adventures: Curry Festival.
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Read more about Grady, her inspirations and upcoming projects after the jump…
1. Name five things on your inspiration wall (real or imaginary):
– The captivating works of Tess Fowler, Marc Silvestri, David Finch, and other greats in the comic industry.
– My diploma from ASU, its a reminder that I’m applying my education and becoming a part of something great.
– Family — my husband is my biggest supporter and my best critic. My daughter reminds me of my struggles to get to where I am.
– A job posting from the websites of Marvel Comics, DC comics, and Zenescope, these are companies i hope to apply to in the next year.
– Comic books — they are my ultimate goal. it is a merger of literature and visual arts to tell a story.
2. What was your last big project?
My last big goal was to have a body of work to show for the Phoenix Comic Con 2010. I worked so hard on self-publishing a preview issue of The Mark of the Pterren — the indie comic written by Melissa Stacy and drawn by yours truly. I also made some splash art, prints, and sketch cards for the convention, as well. It was the biggest show that I have been a part of to date.
3. What’s your next big project?
I am working with writer Kurt Colin in the hopes of reviving the Major Crush Hazard franchise and have issue three completed and ready for publishing. I am working with Melissa Stacy to finish up issue one of The Mark of the Pterren comic and to get it to print. Finally, I’m working with Devi Vann on producing a cooking comic, which is an amazing opportunity to show how limitless the comic genre can be.
4. Why do you do what you do?
I tried so hard for three years to major in physics, but I did myself no justice by suppressing who I am. I am an artist! If I could shout it from the rooftops, I would. In fact I think I just might. In all seriousness, it’s what I am passionate about, and what I am good at; it is who I am and I can not change that. I have had excellent teachers who’ve nurtured my gift. I have a great team of supporters like my husband and stores that graciously invite me into their facilities to showcase my work (such as pop culture paradise, jesse james comics, and atomic comics) and artists (such as Tess Fowler, Mike Debalfo, Tosh Delaney, etc) who encourage me to do better and help me succeed.
5. What’s something you want Phoenix to know about you?
I can be found at the local creator day’s around the valley (usually the last Saturdays of the month). I don’t know everything, but I love to talk, so come out and see me at the local convention shows, see me at the local comic stores, friend me on facebook. If you can’t find me, you’re not looking hard enough …
(and if you’re game, what’s something you don’t want Phoenix to know about you?) I’m deathly afraid of a zombie apocalypse! Eek, I hate zombies so much … yuck!
The Creatives, so far:
100. Fausto Fernandez
99. Brian Boner
98. Carol Panaro-Smith
97. Jane Reddin
96. Adam Dumper
95. Mayme Kratz
94. Daniel Tantalean
93. Yuri Artibise
92. Lisa Starry
91. Paul Hoeprich
90. Betsy Schneider
89. Mary Shindell
88: Gabriel Utasi
87: Tiffany Egbert
86. Angela Cazel Jahn
85. Dayvid LeMmon
84. Beatrice Moore
83. Michelle J. Martinez
82. Carrie Bloomston
81. Paul Porter
80. Rachel Bess
79. Karolina Sussland
78. Aaron Abbott
77. Mary Lucking
76. Erin Sotak
75. Greg Esser
74. Matthew Mosher
73. Mark Klett
72. Tony Carrillo
71. Paul Morris
70. Joe Pagac
69. Alison King
68. JJ Horner
67. Kim Porter
66. Marco Rosichelli
65. Heather Hales
64. Amy Lamp
63. Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker
62. Lindy Drew
61. Robbie Pfeffer
60. Neil Borowicz
59. Lynn Fisher
58. Tanner Woodford
57. David Tinapple
56. Casebeer
55. Tom Leveen
54. Patti Parsons
53. Tedd McDonah
52. Mike Maas
51. Chris Todd
50. Monica Aissa Martinez
49. Stefan Shepherd
48. Jenny Poon
47. Matt Moore
46. Andrea Hanley
45. Julie Hampton
44. Ted Decker
43. Saskia Jorda
42. Michael Bergfalk
41. Scott Baxter
40. Carrie Marill
39. Kobina Banning
38. Suzanne Falk
37. Jon Haddock
36. Kade Twist
35. Cindy Dach
34. John Wagner
33. Roy Wasson Valle
32. Sue Chenoweth
31. Patricia Colleen Murphy
30. David Quan
29. Lesli Yazzie
28. Nathan Feller
27. Cassandra Coblentz
26. Matt Dickson
25. Tara Logsdon
24. Gennaro Garcia
23. Tiphanie Brooke
22. Dan Semenchuk
21. James Angel
20. Tessa Windt
19. Mitch Fry
18. Miro Chun
17. Randy Slack
16. Abbey Messmer
15. Jessica Jordan
14. Brent Bond
13. Peter Shikany
12. Carolyn Lavender
11.Derek A. Welte
10. James E. Garcia9. Stephanie Carrico8. John Spiak7. Quincy Ross6. Steven Yazzie5. Morgan McNally4. Shawna Franks and Bob Fisher3. Colin Chillag
